Drum loading



Jan. 19, 1965 K. e. HOER 3,166,460

DRUM LOADING Filed Sept. 4, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jam 1965 K. G. HOER3,166,460

' DRUM LOADING Filed Sept. 4, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 19, 1965 K. G.HOER 3,166,460

DRUM LOADING Filed Sept. 4, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 K. G. HOER DRUMLOADING Jan. 19, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 4, 1963 United StatesPatent M DRUM LOADING Kenneth George Hoer, Beckenham, Kent, England,

assignor to Muirhead and Co. Limited, Kent, England, a British companyFiled Sept. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 306,532 Claims priority, application GreatBritain, July 31, 1963,

Claims. (Cl. 156-446) This invention relates to a method and a mechanismfor attaching a thin pliantsheet to the peripheral surface of a drum orcylinder. Such an occasion arises, for instance, when it is required toattach the copy material to 'therotatable drum of a facsimiletransmitter or the sensitized recording material to a correspondinglyrotatable drum of a facsimile receiver. In apparatus of this kind wherethe speed of rotation of the drum is rel atively slow, say of the orderof 120 r.p.m., it is known to use clipping means to secure the two endsof the pliant sheet to the drum. In one instance the clips comprisespringy steel strips which extend to the length of the drum and clipinto registers in the extremities thereof.

However, at high drum speeds of the order of 3000 rpm. the retainingclips cause serious dynamic unbalance which unless countered by abalancing mass, results in serious vibrations. Furthermore, thecentrifugal force occasioned by high drum speed is likely to cause theclips to loosen or even to fly off the drum. A

' further disadvantage accompanying the use of clips is the airturbulence they cause tending to produce judder or sudden unevenness indrum speed as they pass the lens or shutter of the scanning means due tochanges in air pressure. Also, it may be said that the front workingclearance 0f some objective lens mountings is very small and this doesnot allow sufiicient space for the drum clips to pass.

For the above reasons it has been found convenient to attach the pliantsheet to the drum by means of an adhesive tape which for all practicalpurposes gives a smooth uninterrupted surface. 7 However, adhesive tapeis diificult to apply while, at the same time, maintaining the sheet inclose contact with the drum. Even with skilled manipulation theoperation takes .a considerable time to perform with very uncertainresults.

It is "an object of .the present invention to provide a mechanicalloading device which will enable a pliant sheet to be attached to theperipheral surface of a rotatable drum using an adhesive tape to secureeach end of the pliant sheet in turn to the drum surface.

It is a further object to enable the loading of the drum to be carriedout rapidly and effectively by persons havinglittle-manipulative skill.

The invention consists in a mechanism for attaching an edge of a thinpliant sheet to the peripheral surface of a drum comprising means forsupporting a strip of adhesive tape across and adjacent to. the drumsurface, means for lowering the tape towards the drum surface to overliethe edge of the sheet and the drum surface and means for rolling thestrip onto the edge of the sheet and drum surface.

Conveniently, means are provided for releasing the Bibfififih PatentedJan. 19, 1965 The invention will be described by way of example withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional side elevation of the drum loader according tothe invention on the line I-I of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view of the principal working parts;

FIGURES 4a, b and 0 show selected moving parts in their initialpositions;

FIGURES 5a, b and 0 show the moving parts in their mid-positions; and

FIGURES 6a, b and c show the moving parts in their final positions.

Referring now to FIGURES l and 2, a part of the table or console whichmay. take any convenient form is shown at 1. The drum 2 is located insuitable bearings in the loading poistion on the top surface 3 of table1 as indicated in the drawing. The frame 4 which supports the pliantsheet prior to loading onto the drum 2 is shown in the figures in theraised or operative position. Bracket 5is rigidly attached to frame 4.Arm 6 is pivoted on bracket 5 at 7 at one end, and on the table 1 at 8at the other end. Roller 9 (FIGURE 1) rests in a channel in part 10.Latch 11 engages latching pin 12 when frame 4 is in the upward oroperating position as shown. Latching pin'12 is an extension of rod 13which may be actuated for example by a foot pedal (not shown). Whenlatch 12 is released by operating the pedal the frame may be lowered toa position beneath the table 1. This motion is controlled by the passageof roller 9 along the channel part '10 and the course taken by the frameis indicated by broken line X. Broken lines 14 in FIGURE 1 show theposition of the frame when fully lowered. Platform or platen 14 isrigidly attached to frame 4 and is provided with a flap 15 hinged at 16.The flap 15 may be raised by a handle 17 and broken lines 15' show theflap in this raised position. The flap is raised to insert the pliantsheet 19 which is held between platen 14 and flap 15 when the latter islowered. Conveniently, platen 14 and flap 15 may be covered on theirmating faces with soft material such as felt or baize as protection forthe pliant sheet. It will be seen that the parts of the apparatus are soproportioned and disposed that the upper edge of the pliant sheet 19rests on the surface of drum 2,. A small sub-frame mounted on the frame4 and generally indicated at 20 carries the various parts of theattaching device for the pliant sheet. These parts are also shown in theexploded drawing (FIGURE 3). Motion isimparted to the mechanism byhandle21 which actuates arms 22 pivoted to subframe 20 at b. Arms 23 arepivoted to arm 22 at a and carry roller 24 at their lower end. Theroller is of sensibly the same length as the drum. Roller 24 is guidedround the periphery of drum 2 over a limited distance by guide plates 25attached to sub-frame 20. Cam' plate 26 is rigidly attached to left handarm 23 in the position shown. Bell crank 27 is mounted on rock shaft 31which is also pivoted at b and carries pin 23' in its upper arm. Pin 23engages slot 29 in cam plate 26. A tape support arm 30 is attached tothe lower arm of bell crank 27 and a similar arm 30a is provided at theright hand side mounted on rock shaft 31. The two support arms 30, 30aare pitched slightly wider apart than the length of the drum.

Drum 2 is provided with a latching pin 32 on the left hand end surfacewhich engages one or other of the two notches 33 and 34 in latchinglever 35. This latch establishes a controlled loading position tomaintain the correct state of dynamic balance when the drum is rotating.In the initial stage, latching pin 32 is engaged with notch 33, when thedrum 2 has been revolved so that the pliant sheet 19 is wrapped roundthe drum, pin 32 engages with notch 34. Latching lever 35 is pivoted atb and is spring loaded in the direction of pin 32. It may be disengagedby operating lever 36 attached thereto. The complete operation will nowbe described with reference to the drawings.

In operation with the drum in position, with pin 32 in latch 33, theframe 4 is raised to its upper position and the flap 15 is pulled over,a pliant sheet 19 is placed in position on platen 14 and the flap 15 islowered again. The top edge of the pliant sheet will be resting acrossthe drum surface. Adjustable stops each side and at the bottom of theplatform locate the sheet so that its top edge is correctly positionedrelative to the drum.

A strip of adhesive tape 37 (FIGURE 1) is stretched between the tapesupport arms 30, 30a at one end of the drum and its counterpart at theother end of the drum.

The positions of the respective parts are indicated in FIGURES 4a, 4band 4c.

The handle 21 is then pulled down.

Arm 23 is thus caused to force roller 24 around the cylindrical surfaceof the drum guided by guides 25.

At the same time pin 28 on crank 27 is forced along the first part ofthe three-part slot 29 in the cam plate 26 thus forcing crank 27 torotate counter clockwise to lower the tape support arms 30, 3ia to aposition in which half of the tape width overlies the upper edge ofsheet 19 and the other half overlies the cylindrical drum surfacedirectly.

At this stage the position of the respective parts are as shown inFIGURES 5a, 5b and 50.

Further movement downwards of the handle 22 causes the roller 24 to rollover the adhesive tape to secure into contact with the drum and with thetop edge of the pliant sheet. During this action the tape support armsSt), 300 do not change in position since pin 32 is passing along themiddle section of the slot 29 which is substantially an arc in relationto the pivot b.

The final part of the movement downwards of handle 21 continues to rollthe pliant sheet onto the drum while the third section of the slot 29moves the crank 27 a further distance counter clockwise disengaging thetape support arms 39, 30a from the tape.

The position then reached is indicated in the FIG- URES 6a, 6b and 6c.

The handle which has been moved down in one continuous movement is thenreleased and restores to the position shown in FIGURE 1.

Having attached one end of the pliant sheet 19 as described the drum 2is unlatched by depressing lever 36 and the drum 2 is rotated clockwiseby hand until pin 32' latches in notch 34 of latching lever 35. Duringthis motion the pliant sheet 19 is progressively wrapped round the drum2 and pressed into intimate contact therewith by roller 24.

A further strip of adhesive tape is then stretched across between thetape supports 30, 30a and the handle 21 is again operated downwards. Bya series of movements identical with those previously described, thetape is applied with half its width overlying the trailing edge of thepliant sheet 19 and half its width overlying the 4. length of tape whichis securing the leading edge of the pliant sheet (the trailing edge ofthe pliant sheet will overlie the half of the first length of tape whichis secured directly to the drum) and is rolled out so that it adheressecurely.

Latch 12 is then released and the frame 4 lowered to the broken lineposition so that the drum with sheet 19 wrapped securely around it isavailable for the transmitting or recording process or for unloading orlifting the drum away.

I claim:

1. A mechanism for attaching an edge of a thin pliant sheetlongitudinally across the curved peripheral surf-ace of acylindricaldrum, comprising means for mounting the drum for rotational movement,means mounted thereon for supporting a strip of adhesive tapelongitudinally across and adjacent to the drum surface, cam meansengaging said supporting means for lowering the tape towards the drumsurface to overlie the edge of the sheet and the drum surface, rollermeans secured to said cam means for rolling the strip onto the edge ofthe sheet and drum surface and means pivotally secured to saidsupporting means for moving said cam means and roller means to effectsaid tape lowering and rolling operations.

2. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which said cams means comprisesmeans for releasing the supporting means from the strip of the tape.

3. A mechanism as claimed. in claim 1, comprising spring-loaded meanspivotally mounted in relation to the supporting means for latching thedrum in an indexed position for the attaching operation.

4. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, comprising spring-loaded meanspivotally mounted in relation to the supporting means for latching thedrum in two indexed positions rotationally spaced from each other forseparate attaching operation for the respective ends of the pliantsheet.

5. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which the means for mountingthe supporting means on the drum mounting means comprise rctractablcmeans pivotally secured to said supporting means for supporting andlocating the sheet, linkage means connecting said retractable team tosaid drum mounting means and permitting the rectractable means to movebetween a position presenting the edge of the sheet to the peripheralsurface of the drum, and a position in which the retractable means isstored below the drum and releasable latching means attached to themounting means for securing the retractable means in the formerposition.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 301,843 7/84Wiley. 156-446 701,229 5/02 Strasburger Q 156-446 2,199,033 4/40 Strauss156-446 3,017,313 1/62 Lagasse et al. 156-446 ROBERT E. REEVES, ActingPrimary Examiner. RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Examiner.

1. A MECHANISM FOR ATTACHING AN EDGE OF A THIN PLIANT SHEETLONGITUDINALLY ACROSS THE CURVED PERPHERAL SURFACE OF A CYLINDRICALDRUM, COMPRISING MEANS FOR MOUNTING THE DRUM FOR ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT,MEANS MOUNTED THEREON FOR SUPPORTING A STRIP OF ADHESIVE TAPELONGITUDINALLY ACROSS AND ADJACENT TO THE DRUM SURFACE, CAM MEANSENGAGING SAID SUPPORTING MEANS FOR LOWERING THE TAPE TOWARDS THE DRUMSURFACE TO OVERLIE THE EDGE OF THE SHEET AND THE DRUM SURFACE, ROLLERMEANS SECURED TO SAID CAM MEANS FOR ROLLING THE STRIP ONTO THE EDGE OFTHE SHEET AND DRUM SURFACE AND MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAIDSUPPORTING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CAM MEANS AND ROLLER MEANS TO EFFECTSAID TAPE LOWERING AND ROLLING OPERATIONS.